Jinja Progressive Academy (JIPRA) has been expelled from the ongoing 2025 U-20 National Boys’ Football Championship following a series of serious violations during and after their semifinal clash with St. Mary’s Boarding Secondary School Kitende.
The Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) confirmed the decision in an official statement released on Monday, citing the use of ineligible players and incidents of violent conduct as grounds for the expulsion.
The semifinal match, played at Ngora High School, was marred by controversy after JIPRA allegedly fielded Isabirye Adrian and Ntege Musa, both of whom were ineligible due to prior yellow card accumulations.
According to the USSSA, the situation escalated after the match, with members of the JIPRA team reportedly assaulting match officials and inciting violence among spectators — actions deemed in violation of USSSA Rules 8.1 and 8.2, which govern player conduct and sportsmanship.
As a result, USSSA imposed the following sanctions:
- Forfeiture of the semifinal match against Kitende
- Immediate expulsion from the championship
- Eviction from the games village and surrounding areas in Ngora District
“The Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association remains committed to upholding discipline, integrity, and fair play in all its competitions,” the statement read.
The association added that further disciplinary measures may be announced after consultations with the Ministry of Education and Sports.
The decision is expected to have significant implications for the championship’s final stages, with Kitende progressing unchallenged to the final.